Training for endurance athletics versus training for aesthetics and strength require very different types of fueling, specifically during exercise. I definitely run well on carbohydrate (yes, I know it’s not “necessary” to life, and some people do fine on low carb diets, even endurance athletes, but I am not one of them. Trial and error and experience have taught me that I do just fine with carbs.) In general, when training for strength and aesthetics, your actual exercise time is not very long, usually less than an hour. There’s no real need for “during exercise” fueling. On the other hand, I can easily be out for 2-4 hours training on the bike, on a generally 5 day per week basis. That requires some fuel.

As an endurance athlete with celiac disease, I have to be very aware and careful with what fuel I choose. I always carry enough food to sustain me, as I do not like to be dependent upon finding appropriate food while at a ride or race. (The only exception is a banana-I feel very safe peeling one of those myself and eating it, and pretty much every convenience store/gas station has bananas these days.)

As always when it comes to specific brands and foods, if it is a packaged/labeled/manufactured item, always check labels and double check with the companies if you are not sure. Although these items were safe and gluten free at the time this was written, formulations and ingredients change and it is always better to be careful.

There are quite a few options out there, so I’m just going to focus on the ones I’ve personally tried. Let’s split it up into fluids, gels, and real food (aka food that requires chewing.) Just for grins. Let’s remember that sugars are OK when you’re exercising for a long period of time, and for the sake of this discussion that means > 90 minutes of a moderate intensity.

Fluids

Good old water. If your training session is 90 minutes or less of moderate or easy intensity, you’re good with just water or perhaps a low calorie electrolyte providing beverage, such as…

ZYM. I like ZYM Catapult because it has a little caffeine (a performance enhancer) but not too much, and I like the Berry flavor. It has a little fizz to it but it goes away quickly. I’ve also tried the lemon lime flavor which was quite good as well. The flavoring is subtle. These are handy because you can toss the tube into your pocket and take it with you, which saves me having to use Gatorade on the road to refill out of desperation. (The osmolality in Gatorade is not my friend, tummy discomfort galore.) I’ve heard Nuun tabs are similar, but I’ve not tried those.

Generation UCAN. This is technically a pre-training drink, but it is a fluid, so here you go. I did extensive testing and reviews of Gen UCAN, and still use it. I alternate UCAN with a mixture of honey and coconut oil as my pre-ride fuel. (I ride very early in the morning.) UCAN is a carbohydrate and electrolyte drink, designed for use pre-workout. Read my reviews here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

First Endurance Electrolyte Fuel System Drink Mix. This is my drink of choice for providing carbohydrate and electrolytes in fluid form while training. I’ve tried another brand (Hammer’s HEED) which I did not like the taste of and did not have as good of an electrolyte profile as the EFS does. I like the Fruit Punch flavor.

Gels (’cause when I’m riding hard, ain’t no way I’m chewing.)

Honey Stinger Energy Gel. This is my current favorite. The packets are easy to open, and the consistency of the honey is slightly watered down so it is easy to swallow. I like the chocolate and Ginsting (which is a regular honey flavor with a little caffeine) flavors. I especially appreciate the limited ingredient list. Honey is a really good carbohydrate source for athletes, by the way. Check it out. The research was funded by the Honey Board, but still. It’s also good for lots of other stuff. (As an aside, that is why on the days I do not use Gen UCAN as my pre training drink, I use a mix of coconut oil or coconut butter and honey. The medium chain triglycerides in the coconut oil get used for fuel, and the honey is a great carb source. I started using this on the suggestion of Kelli Jennings at Apex Nutrition. As Kelli says “These are fast-acting, quick-metabolizing energy foods. The honey provides moderately fast carbs that act similarly to maltodextrin (moderately fast and longer lasting than glucose), natural enzymes to improve digestion, and antioxidants. The organic coconut oil provides fast-acting medium chain triglycerides which are used directly by the mitochondria of cells (energy producers) without the need for bile or slow digestion.” I am working on a DIY energy gel using these and salt, but haven’t got it yet.) The packaging for these gels is easy to open, yet is sturdy enough for a full packet to make it through the washing machine without breaking open. I speak with first hand knowledge. Got to check those jersey pockets.

Chocolate #9. Like Honey Stinger Gels, these have a lovely ingredient list. These were VERY chocolatey, and had a considerably thicker texture than the Honey Stinger. They were like brownie batter, which would be lovely under different circumstances, but trying to swallow it as quickly as possible lessened my enjoyment. Plus, it made it harder to get out of the package with your teeth. (Keep in mind, this is while I’m riding, so teeth and one hand.) These have less carbohydrate than the Honey Stingers as well. These were good, but for my purposes and taste I prefer the Honey Stinger gels.

Real Food aka you have to chew it.

(For me, these are used for a ride > 2.5 hours.)

Bananas. Self explanatory. Really, any fruit, but none have the comic potential that bananas do. Cyclists are a funny group. Bananas are one of the few chew-requiring foods that I can eat on the bike.

Jovial Fig Fruit Filled Gluten Free Organic Cookies . Fig Newtons are kind of a staple in the endurance world. I was feeling nostalgic, so went looking for a gluten free alternative and came across these. They are handily packaged in 2’s, which is perfect for tossing in a jersey pocket. Tasty, too.

Raisins or any dried fruit.

LÄRABAR . I like the Cherry Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Carrot Cake flavors. You may be different. A friend of mine bought the Peanut Butter Cookie and hated it, while I like it. The combo of nuts and dried fruit gives a little bit of faster carb and the longer lasting fat fuel.

Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews. These are nice because they don’t require too much chewing, in a pinch you can even just swallow them. My only gripe is that they leave your fingers sticky, so try to shoot them into your mouth from the package.

Hopefully this gives all you endurance athletes some ideas! Like I said, this is by no means an all inclusive list, these are just the items I’ve tried and used. Please leave a comment if there is something else you use and like!

6 comments on “Fueling options for the gluten free endurance athlete”

First off, I’m a CARB girl too! I can’t do low-carb. Ever. I do low-crap-carb, but I can’t do low carb, especially when exercise is involved. I need quick burning fuel for endurance events (immediately). My endurance events are usually a long day on the trail (hiking a 14er, backpacking for days on end, etc.), but I’m getting back into mountain biking now. Once I get to the point that I can ride for longer than a couple of hours (I’m getting there, slowly but surely), I’ll be hitting the gel packs again. One of my favorites (also with a touch of caffeine) is Clif Mocha Shot Gels.

Great post, Erin! Just what I expect from you — good stuff. BTW, I can’t be your sister from another mother because you’re too young (I’m not too old), but I can be your aunt from another sister. =)

And YES, Pete and I are proud to profile you in the book (thank you for the mention!). You’re so inspiring and I’m always motivated when I’m around you (via GFF or FB or Twitter). You honestly motivate me. Congratulations on your recent podium finish! So awesome!

You are certainly not too old 🙂 And I’m pretty sure we’re close enough in age to be siblings, perhaps a little far apart, but still siblings. My mom is one of 7 kids-the eldest and youngest are quite a bit apart!

Gels are so handy and convenient. Given my druthers, I’d stop to eat “real food” but sometimes that’s just not possible. I bought a refillable flask and am going to try out some ideas for a DIY gel with coconut oil, honey, water, and some salt electrolytes, but the consistency I think may be a bit of a bugger. We shall see. Now that I have the Blendtec I can give it a shot.

So excited to read the book! Both you and Pete have so much to share, and I am looking forward to reading the other athlete’s stories too!

Thanks for the congratulations! It’s still a little surreal to me that I have that capability. Fun, though. Really fun. 🙂